Tile Ornament Tree Countdown Calendar for Christmas!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET THE TILE ORNAMENT TREE DESIGN

This tile ornament tree project is made with design #250, which you can get from my free resource library (get the password to the library in the form at the bottom of this page).

There are three versions of this tree-- a small version intended for cutting from Kraft board on the Cricut Explore or Maker, a large "pieced" version intended for cutting from heavy chipboard on the Cricut Maker with the knife place, and a large "whole" version intended for cutting on the Glowforge laser cutting machine. This tutorial will cover the Cricut versions primarily.

Here is what the large pieced version of my arabesque tile ornament tree countdown calendar design file will look like when you upload it to the Cricut Design Space:

Tip: If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to the Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made.

STEP 2: CUT THE ORNAMENT TREE DESIGN

Once the ornament tree file is uploaded into Cricut Design Space, you may wish to ungroup the design or change colors, but it is not necessary. Do not resize it larger as it will not cut any larger on Cricut chipboard (which is 11" x 11"). Also, it is currently sized perfectly to fit the small arabesque tiles noted in my supply list — it will not fit the tiles from Lowes or Home Depot, which are larger and heavier.

Cutting on the Cricut Maker:
I cut the ornament tree on the Cricut Maker using the Knife Blade. I used Cricut Heavy Chipboard as my material for the tree. This project takes several hours to cut the tree pieces from heavy chipboard on the Cricut Maker. Be aware and plan accordingly. This is a good project to set to cut while you're doing something else.

Place the material you are cutting on a purple Cricut StrongGrip mat. Press down well to create a firm bond between the material and your mat.

Tape all four edges of chipboard to the mat (masking tape or painter’s tape recommended). Do not let your tape wrap around the edges of your mat to avoid jams.

On the Cricut Maker cutting machine, move white star wheels all the way to the right to avoid making an indentation in your material.

Load the mat into the machine and begin to cut.

The Cricut Maker's default setting is to make 24 passes when cutting heavy chipboard. The machine will make multiple passes while increasing the pressure with each pass. I recommend you keep an eye on your Maker as it cuts, as it may be done in as little as 18 passes. To check, just pause your machine, lift up a corner, and see if it’s cut all the way through yet or not.

Cutting on the Cricut Explore:
The small version of the tile ornament tree may be cut from Kraft board on the Cricut Explore. I used Cricut Foil Kraft Board as my material, however, you can experiment with other types of cardboard you may have on hand.

I used the Fine Point Blade and housing to cut Kraft board on my Cricut Explore.

Place the material you are cutting on a green Cricut StandardGrip mat. Press down well to create a firm bond between the material and your mat.

Turn the dial on the Cricut Explore to Custom and select Kraft Board from the list of custom materials. (I also cut mine on More pressure.)

Load the mat into the machine and begin to cut.

Once you have cut the ornament tree pieces, select the ornament(s) you want to use and cut them from Kraft board or cardstock of your choice.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR TILE ORNAMENT TREE

Glue the Tree Together:

If you made the large version from heavy chipboard on a Cricut Maker, you need to glue the pieces together with tacky glue. Be sure you glue the join in the pieces, as well as glue together the bottom tree layer and top tree layer.

If you made the small version from Kraft board, just glue the top tree layer to the bottom tree layer.

Glue the Box Together:

Now glue the box together and attach it to the tree. The large version just gets glued along the edges; the small version has tabs, and then the tree is inserted into the box and glued down.

Glue the Backs/Caps on the Ornaments

If you intend to use your ornament tree as a countdown like I am, glue the numbered backs onto either your ceramic tiles or paper versions of the tiles, folding the top around to the front of the tile and lining up the holes.

If you want to just use unnumbered ornaments on the tree, use the caps provided in the pattern and glue them to the top of your ornaments (they work for both ceramic and paper ornaments).

Hang the Ornaments from the Tree

If you made the large ornament tree, hammer in the brass escutcheon pins above each ornament spot so the pins go in far enough to be stable but do not poke out the back. Here are what the brass pins look like when inserted into the tree to hold the ornaments.

If you made the small ornament tree, take a paper clip and pull up the SHORT end so it is sticking straight up from the paper clip, then poke that in the hole above each ornament spot from the back to create a little place to hold an ornament. Tape the paperclip to the backside of your tree for more stability. Repeat for the other 24 ornaments. Here are what the paper clips look like when inserted from the back of the tree to hold the paper ornaments.

And here is what the paper clips look like from the front — just a little place to hold the ornaments.

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF!

Enjoy your tile ornament tree painted or unpainted, it's your choice!

My large ornament tree is painted with dark green spray paint on the base layer, "foliage green" acrylic craft paint on the top layer, fire engine red acrylic paint on the box, and gold acrylic paint on the star.

My small ornament tree has no paint — it's all colored Kraft board.